Combined guide and protector for use in universal joints



Oct. 21 1924. 1,512,840 J. B. FLICK I I COMBINED GUIDE AND'PRQTECTOR FORUsE IN UNIVERSAL JOINTS ori inal Filed Nov. 9 1921 Figl Y 7 4g PatentedGet. 21, 1924.

STATES JOHN B. FLICK, F DETRO IT, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED GUIDE AND PROTECTOR FOR USE IN UNIVERSAL JOINTS.

Original application filed November 9, 1921, Serial No. 513.957. Dividedand this application filed September 9, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN B. FLICK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Guides andProtectors for Use in Universal Joints; and I hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description'thereof, 1 referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, tion.

The present application is a division of my application for U. S.Letters Patent on universal joints. filed November 9, 1921,

Serial No. 513,957.

This invention relates to universal joint couplings for use intransmitting power from a driving to a driven shaft, and has particularreference to that type of universal joint wherein the driven shaft isprovided on its end with a globular head and a transverse pin carryingrollers or balls which engage diametrically opposite slots in a memberfixedly attached to the adja cent end of the driving shaft, thusinsuring simultaneous rotatorial movement of the shafts while permittingangular displacement of one shaft relative to the other, and alsopermitting slight endwise longitudinal play of one shaft relative to theother: such joints being particularly adapted for use in thetransmission gear of automobiles.

In this type of joint an expansion spring is ordinarily used to preventrattling due to relative endwise movement of the shafts, which occurwhen such joint is used in the transmission gear of an automobile; andthe rocking of the shaft tends to displace the spring and cause it tooperate inefliciently; and to cut into the end of the shaft with whichit engages.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel guide andprotector which will prevent the spring wearing the end of the shaft,keep the spring always in correct operative position, and guide the ballhead of the shaft in its longitudinal movement, thereby enabling aheavier spring to be used, lessening the wear on the parts, andenhancing the durability of the spring."

I will describe the invention with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, and summarize in the claims the novel features which form partof this specifica the drawings.

Serial .No. 587,153.

view of such joint part of the housing Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail,side, top and end views of the guide and the ball end of the shaft.

F ig. 6 is a section of the protector on line 66 Fig. 4.

The type'of'joint illustrated in Figs. 1 andJQ comprises a shaft member1 having a ball-head 1" transfixed by a pin 1 on protector for cap guideand whose ends at opposite sides of the ball head l" are mounted rollersor balls 2. The head 1 and balls 2 are entered into one member 4 of acasing preferably composed of two separable members 4 and 5, as shown inPart 4501? the casing is provided with an axial bore4 ,slightly largerin diameter than the ball-head l, and at diametrically opposite sides ofpassage 4 and with slots 4 which open attheir inner sides into the outersides of passage 4, as shown. The head 1 is entered in bore 4 androllers 2 enter the slots 48 as shown.

The part 4 I is open at its outer end, through which the. shaft 1enters, and its inner end is provided with a flange E which is attachedto a corresponding flange 5 on the end of a complemental casing member 5formed on or keyed to a shaft 10.

The part 5' is provided with a recess'5 adjacent the inner end of theshaft 10 for" the accommodation of an expansion spring I 7, which isplaced in the casing between the inner end of the shaft 10 and theball-head 1 'of the sheft 1. Thei inner end of the sprin usua ressesirectl a ainst the ball-hiad, and t b y g the ball head 1*, the latterisrocked, and to guide the ball head, protect the ball head and springfrom wear, and to enable a lighter spring to be employed, I" provide thenovel ball head protector and guide and spring centering device 6," inFigs. 3-6.

This protector and guide 6 comprises a cup-shaped member preferablyformed of pressed or drawn steel, or other suitable shown detachedprevent the spring cutting;

ballzhead and the walls of the axial bore.

4. in casing member 4 (see Figs. 1 and 2). Theleg portions 6 of theprotector 6 lie at opposite sides of the ball head l and will preventthe protector rocking longitudinally of or in the groove or bore 4*while guiding it in the bore and permitting it to freely slide orreciprocate therein. The protector 6 is free to move longitudinally inthe casing with the ball head, but will not oscillate or turn with theball head relative to the axis ofpin l or to the axis of bore 4".

the protector is capable of longitudinal sliding movements in the bore4. and will under the action of spring 7 follow up the ball head in anylongitudinal movement thereof in the casing 4.

The protector 6 1s. preferably provided with an opening in its end 6next shaft 10 which opening is surrounded by an exterior flange 6 withwhich flange the inner end of spring 7 is engaged, as in .Fig. 1. Thepressure of the spring 7 is transmitted through protector 6 to theballhead 1; and

while the ball head can rock within the protector 6 its rocking motionswill not be transmitted to the spring 7 nor can the spring chafe or bindon the head. The protector 6 thus protects the ball head from wear bycontact with the spring, and keeps the spring 7 in exact alignment withthe axiso-f bore 41 at all times, and prevents chattering of thespringand enhances the durability, efficiency and wearing qualities ofthe joint.

When the parts are assembled the space between the ball head 1 and theshaft 10 should be, packed with grease, so all the parts will beproperly lubricated during the operation thereof. I

The operation of the parts will be obvious from the drawings and fromthe foregoing description, and the adaptability of the guide andprotector 6 to various forms of ball heads will be obvious.

What I claim is:

"1. For a universal oint of the character specified; 'a'combined guideand protector adapted to engage the ball head of the shaft member of thejoint and having parallel leg portions extending on opposite sides ofthe the bore of the casing meniberof the joint, substantially asdescribed.

2. Fora universal joint of the character The ball head 1 can move freelyin all directions within the protector 6 while specified; a combinedguide and protector adapted to engage the ball head of the shaft memberof the joint having portions engaging the bore of the casing member ofthe joint, and having a flan e on its end to engagethe spring in thejoint, substantially as described.

3. For a universal joint of the character specified; a combined guideand protector adapted to engage the ball head of the shaft member of thejoint having parallel portions extending on opposite sides of the ballhead and engaging the bore of the casing member of the joint, and-havinga flange on its end to engage the spring in the joint, substantially asdescribed.

4. For a universal joint of the character specified, a cup-like shellformed'of rawn metal and having an end portion adapted to engage theball head of the shaft member of the coupling and portions adapted toslidably engage the walls of the casing and also having a flange for theengagement of a spring, substantially as described.

5. For a universal joint as set forth, a cuplike shell formed of drawnmetal and having an end portion adapted toengage the ball sides of theshaft, and also having a flange for the engagement of the spring,substantially as described.

7. In combination with a universal joint comprising a member havingdiametrically opposite slots, a shaft entering the member having aball-head and members attached to said head engaging said slots with acombined guide and protector engaging the ballhead of the shaft andhaving parallel opposite leg portions projecting on opposite sides ofthe ball-head and engaging the walls of the casing, and a spring in thecasing engaging said protector, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a universal joint comprisinga member having'abore and slots at diametrically opposite sides of the bore a shaftentering the member having a ball-head and 'members attached to saidhead engaging said slots; with a combined guide and protector fitted tothe ball end of the shaft and having parallel opposite leg portionsprojecting at opposite sides of the ball .head and engaging the bore inthe casing 9. Incombination with a universal joint comprising a memberhaving a bore, a shaft entering the member having a ball head, with acombined ball guide and protector comprising a cup-shaped member fittedon the end of the ball head and having an opening surrounded by aflange, and portions projecting past opposite sides of the ball head andengaging the bore in the casing; and an expansion spring in the casingengaging said flange, substantially as described.

10. In combination With a universal joint comprising a member having abore, a shaft entering the member having a ball head with a combinedguide and protector for the ball head having parallel portions engagingthe Walls of the casing at opposite sides of the ball head, and alsohaving an opening in its end surrounded by a flange; and a spring in thecasing engaging said flange.

11. A universal joint comprising a casing having an axial bore; a shaftentering the casing and havin a ball head on its inner end engaging saishell engaging the ball head and having parallel leg portions extendingat opposite sides of the head engaging the walls of the bore of thecasing, and a spring in the casing to force the shell against the ballhead.

12. In combination with a universal joint comprising a member having abore and having diametrically opposite slots, a shaft entering themember having a ball head, and members attached to said head engagingsaid slots with a combined ball guide and protector comprising acup-shaped member fitted on the end of the ball head and having anopening surrounded by a flange and parallel opposite leg portions proecting past opposite sides of the ball head and engaging the bore in thecasing; and an expansion spring in the casing engaging said flange,substantially as describe 13. In combination with a universal jointcomprising a member having a bore and diabore, with a cup-shapedmetrically opposite slots, a shaft entering the member having a ballhead and members connected to said head engaging said slots; with acombined guide and protector on the ball head having parallel portionsengaging the walls of the casing at opposite sides of the ball head, andparallel opposite leg portions projecting past opposite sides of theball head and engaging the bore in the easing, and also having anopening in its end surrounded by a flange; and a spring in the casingengaging said flange.

14. In combination with a universal joint comprising a casing having anaxial bore and diametrically opposite slots opening into the bore; ashaft entering the member and having a ball head on its inner endengaging said boreand members mounted on the ball head and respectivelyentered in said slots; with a cup-shaped shell engaging the ball headand having parallel leg portions extending at opposite sides of the headand engaging the walls of the bore of the casing, and a spring in thecasing engaging said shell to force. it against the head.

15. A universal joint comprising a casing having an axial bore anddiametrically opposite slots opening into the bore; a shaft entering themember and having a ball head on its inner end engaging said bore andmembers mounted on the ball head and respectively entered in said slots,with a drawn metal cup-shaped member fitted to the inner end of the ballhead and having parallel leg portions at opposite sides of the ball headengaging the Walls of the bore of the casing at opposite sides of thehead, and also having an opening in its inner end surrounded by aflange; and a spring in the casing engaging said flange to force theshell against the head.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I aflix my signature.

JOHN B. FLICK.

